Review: "For Colored Girls" is Sho Enuf Good

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 15 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux

For Colored Girls (2010)
Running time: 134 minutes (2 hours, 14 minutes)
MPAA – R for some disturbing violence including a rape, sexual content and language
DIRECTOR: Tyler Perry
WRITER: Tyler Perry (based upon the play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange)
PRODUCERS: Roger M. Bobb, Paul Hall, and Tyler Perry
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Alexander Gruszynski
EDITOR: Maysie Hoy

DRAMA

Starring: Kimberly Elise, Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Kerry Washington, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Whoopi Goldberg, Macy Gray, Michael Ealy, Omari Hardwick, Richard Lawson, Hill Harper, and Khalil Kain

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf is a 1975 stage play written by American playwright and poet, Ntozake Shange. It is my understanding that the Obie Award-winning play is a series of 20 poems or poetic monologues that express the struggles and obstacles that African-American women face throughout their lives.

Tyler Perry, the playwright turned prolific film director, adapted Shange’s play into the 2010 film, For Colored Girls. The film explores the lives of nine modern African American women, interconnected by one way or another, and uses poetic vignettes to illuminate their struggles, suffering, and conflicts (abuse, rape, and abortion, among others).

Among the characters is Joanne “Jo” Bradmore (Janet Jackson), a magazine publisher whose husband, Carl Bradmore (Omari Hardwick), is unfaithful. Promiscuous Tangie Adrose (Thandie Newton) and troubled teenager, Nyla (Tessa Thompson), are estranged sisters who find their mother, Alice Adrose (Whoopi Goldberg), to be the thing between them. Crystal Wallace (Kimberly Elise), who works for Jo, fails to see the true danger her abusive boyfriend, war veteran Beau Willie Brown (Michael Ealy), poses to her and her children. Meanwhile, watching everything and hoping to bring everyone together is apartment manager, Gilda (Phylicia Rashad).

I’ve always thought that Tyler Perry is as capable of directing moving film dramas as he is at staging broad comedies, and For Colored Girls affirms that, although 2009’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself already proved Perry could do drama. I’m surprised that this film has gotten such negative reviews, especially because Perry has taken the black social pathologies this story depicts and has transformed them into riveting tales of human pathology with a universal appeal.

Perry’s nuanced staging and graceful directing of the camera transform what could have been downbeat into a mesmerizing panorama of compelling character dramas. Seriously, if For Colored Girls looked exactly the same and a white filmmaker like Stephen Daldry, David Fincher, or Christopher Nolan was credited as the director, film critics would be turning verbal cartwheels to praise this film. Perry’s work here as a director can be described as, at least, occasionally virtuoso, and while his screenwriting here is weaker than his directing, Perry, as both writer and director, has done a superb job turning these poetic vignettes into a powerful film.

Perry gets some fantastic performances from his cast, especially the actresses, who all hit strong emotional notes. I hate to single out any, but if I had to pick favorites, I would go with Kimberly Elise, Thandie Newton, and Phylicia Rashad. Every moment she is onscreen, Elise delivers magic; her every move and glance makes you believe that Crystal Wallace is real. Thandie Newton is effortless in her brilliance (as usual), and Rashad shows colors, shades, and textures in a performance that certainly surprised me. I never knew she was that good.

However, all the women in this film shine, giving stirring performances that help For Colored Girls to ring true. Even if Tyler Perry doesn’t get his due from critics and haters, he has given us our due – a great African-American drama about Black women.

9 of 10
A+

Friday, February 18, 2011

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Review: A Year Later, Walt Disney's "The Princess and the Frog" is Still Magical

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 13 (of 2009) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Running time: 97 minutes (1 hour, 37 minutes)
MPAA – G
DIRECTORS: Ron Clements, John Musker
PRODUCER: Peter Del Vecho
WRITERS: Ron Clements, John Musker, and Rob Edwards; from a story by Ron Clements, John Musker, Greg Erb, Don Hall, and Jason Oremland
EDITOR: Jeff Draheim
COMPOSER: Randy Newman
Academy Award nominee

ANIMATION/COMEDY/FANTASY/FAMILY/ROMANCE

Starring: (voices) Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David, Michael-Leon Wooley, Jim Cummings, Jennifer Cody, Jenifer Lewis, Peter Bartlett, Terrence Howard, John Goodman, and Oprah Winfrey

Several years ago, Walt Disney announced that 2004’s Home on the Range would be the company’s last 2D animated (or hand drawn animation) feature length film because, the company insisted, audiences now wanted 3D or computer animated films. But praise God for Ed Catmull and John Lasseter! Taking over Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2007, the duo behind Pixar spearheaded the return to 2D. The result is the fantastic, The Princess and the Frog. In development since 2006, The Princess and the Frog not only marks the return to traditional 2D hand-drawn animation, but it is also the return of the Disney musical in the vein of Beauty and the Beast.

A musical comedy and fantasy, The Princess and the Frog is set in an idealized version of the city of New Orleans of the 1920s. Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) comes from hardworking parents: the strong and loving father, James (Terrence Howard), and her mother the inspiration and anchor, Eudora (Oprah Winfrey). Tiana’s dream is to open New Orleans’ finest restaurant. Believing like her father that wishes don’t come true without hard work, Tiana eschews fun and works double shifts to save money.

Spoiled and irresponsible, Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos), from the far-off kingdom of Maldonia, arrives in New Orleans, cut off from his parents’ money. Naveen meets Dr. Facilier (Keith David), “the Shadowman.” Facilier transforms Prince Naveen into a frog as part of a scheme to steal a local rich man’s money. When Tiana and froggy Prince Naveen’s meet, Naveen convinces Tiana that her kiss can make him human again. However, in a twist on the Grimm brothers’ fairy tale, “The Frog Prince,” the kiss leaves Naveen unchanged, but instead also transforms Tiana into a frog. With the assistance of Louis, a trumpet-playing alligator (Michael-Leon Wooley) and Ray, a Cajun firefly (Jim Cummings), Tiana and Naveen race against time to Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis), the bayou-dwelling ancient who has the power to undo Facilier’s spell.

The Princess and the Frog is a Disney animation first – the lead is an African-American heroine (the Black Disney princess). However, one could be forgiven for forgetting that fact while watching this movie. Under the direction of the revered team of John Musker and Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin), The Princess and the Frog is so amazing, it almost makes you forget the historical and social implications. Even the Black princess not having a Black prince is no big deal when placed in the context of this magical film.

Musker and Clements have certainly put together an animated film that is every bit as visually impressive as modern animation, including Pixar’s 3D wonderland, Up. Most importantly, this stands next to the best of Disney’s modern, hand-drawn animated films. The Princess and the Frog has the shimmering colors of Beauty and the Beast and meaningful drama of The Lion King.

Oscar winner Randy Newman’s excellent score and bouncy musical numbers recall the melodious, song-driven narratives that made Disney’s late 80’s and early 90s films like The Little Mermaid and Aladdin timeless classics. From songs about gumption (“Almost There”) and optimism (“When We’re Human”) to the dueling natures of the dark side (“Friends on the Other Side”) and the light side (“Dig a Little Deeper”), The Princess and the Frog tells its story and conveys its messages as much through songs as it does through its superbly written story and screenplay.

For all its outstanding animation – from the stunning character animation to the glorious special effects that will make you believe in magic (Disney magic!), this film lives through a cast of voice actors that just wows, and few of the actors are big-name stars (except for Queen of the World, Ms. Winfrey). Anika Noni Rose defines the patient, lovely, industrious, entrepreneurial young woman that is Tiana; Rose brings the character to life in such a way that makes Tiana seem like a real person. Keith David, the actor most under utilized by Hollywood, makes a delightfully macabre turn as Dr. Facilier, a villain with the right amount of wicked and just enough comic undertones to fit this family friend film. The show-stealer is Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis, the jazz-loving alligator, who is so funny and so good that it defies description.

Walt Disney Animation Studio may never again have a 2D animation blockbuster on the level of 1994’s The Lion King. On the other hand, as the dominant theme of this film frequently reminds us, one cannot simply wish for something and hope it comes true; one has to work to make that wish come true. The hard work that went into this film made the wishes of fans of 2D animation come true. The Princess and the Frog is a Disney classic both groundbreaking and marvelous.

10 of 10

Sunday, December 13, 2009

NOTES:
2010 Academy Awards: 3 nominations: “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song” (Randy Newman for the song "Almost There"), “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song” (Randy Newman for the song "Down in New Orleans"), and “Best Animated Feature Film of the Year” (John Musker and Ron Clements)

2010 Black Reel Awards: 2 wins: “Best Song, Original or Adapted” (Anika Noni Rose for the song "Almost There") and “Best Voice Performance” (Anika Noni Rose); 7 nominations: “Best Film,” “Best Ensemble” (Anika Noni Rose, Oprah Winfrey, Terrence Howard, Jenifer Lewis, John Goodman, Keith David, Michael-Leon Wooley, Bruno Campos, Elizabeth M. Dampier, and Jim Cummings), “Best Song, Original or Adapted” (Anika Noni Rose for the song "Almost There"), “Best Song, Original or Adapted” (Anika Noni Rose for the song "Down in New Orleans"), “Best Song, Original or Adapted” (Ne-Yo for the song "Never Knew I Needed"), “Best Voice Performance” (Keith David), and “Best Voice Performance” (Anika Noni Rose)

2010 Golden Globes: 1 nomination: “Best Animated Feature Film”

2010 Image Awards: 2 nominations: “Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture” (Anika Noni Rose) and “Outstanding Motion Picture”

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Lionsgate Releases First Image from Tyler Perry's "For Colored Girls"

This is the first image from Tyler Perry's upcoming film, For Colored Girls.

Pictured are from left to right: Anika Noni Rose (as Yasmine), Kerry Washington (as Kelly), Janet Jackson (as Joanna), Kimberly Elise (as Crystal), Phylicia Rashad (as Gilda), Loretta Devine (as Juanita), Tessa Thompson (Nyla) and Thandie Newton (Tangie) in "For Colored Girls." Photo credit: Patrick Harbron

Lionsgate recently announced that the film's release date has been moved up from the Martin Luther King holiday weekend in 2011 to November 5 2010.
 
To see this image at a larger size, go here.

Review: "Dreamgirls" a Delightful Spin on Music History (Happy B'day, Beyonce)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 77 (of 2007) by Leroy Douresseaux

Dreamgirls (2006)
Running time: 131 minutes (2 hours, 11 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for language, some sexuality, and drug content
DIRECTOR: Bill Condon
WRITER: Bill Condon (based upon the original Broadway Production Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen)
PRODUCER: Laurence Mark
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Tobias Schliessler
EDITOR: Virginia Katz, A.C.E.
Academy Award winner

MUSICAL/DRAMA

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Anika Noni Rose, Keith Robinson, Jennifer Hudson, Sharon Leal, and Hinton Battle

Writer/director Bill Condon wrote the screenplay that brought the famous musical Chicago to the screen in 2002, and the film went onto to win six Academy Awards including "Best Picture" in 2003. Condon, who won an Oscar for writing his 1998 film Gods and Monsters, takes on the movie musical again with Dreamgirls, a film adaptation of the beloved 1981 Tony Award-winning musical of the same name. Condon uses music (featuring the score of Henry Krieger, who also scored the original musical) and song to drive this film into a memorable musical experience that recreates a particular period in American music.

In 1960's Detroit, an African-American singing trio, the Dreamettes - Deena Jones (Beyoncé Knowles), Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose), and lead singer Effie White (Jennifer Hudson), are trying to make it to the big time. They arrive at a big talent show in their cheap wigs and homemade dresses. The Dreamettes perform songs written by Effie's brother, C.C. (Keith Robinson), who also choreographs their dancing.

They get their big break when they meet Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Jaime Foxx), an ambitious car salesman determined to make his mark on the music industry. He wants to form his own record label and get its music heard on mainstream radio stations - meaning white-owned - in a time when the Civil Rights movement is still struggling to get a foothold and when black recording artists are mostly marginalized. He sees the Dreamettes as the right angle to make that move to the mainstream. They've got the right talent and could be the right product to sell - if Curtis can shape it all the way he sees fit.

Curtis talks the girls into allowing him to become their manager, and he gets them a gig singing backup for James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy), a pioneer of the new Detroit sound that blends soul music and rock 'n' roll. Early, however, is stuck singing on the "Chitlin' Circuit," which, at the time, meant mostly black-owned clubs. Curtis promises Early to move him into the mainstream, replacing Early's original manager, Marty Madison (Danny Glover), but that's not the only changes Curtis plans on making. He changes the Dreamettes name to the Dreams, and moves to replace Effie as the lead singer. As a new musical age dawns and Curtis' new sound takes hold, some people are fading away and others are finding that their dreams have come true, but at a high price.

Dreamgirls is indeed a movie musical, pretty much in the fine tradition of Hollywood musicals, except that its major characters are all black. It's an absolutely lovely film. In terms of the film's creative staff (art direction, costumes, cinematography, etc.), Dreamgirls is as good as any in recent memories, and the Dreams' costumes seem right out of a musical dream. Tobias Schliessler's cinematography creates a crystal clear heavenly aura of color that mixes the hyper-reality of the music world with the harsh reality of failure and betrayal.

The acting is quite good, but the singing is what makes these performances so memorable. As an actress, Jennifer Hudson isn't yet as skilled as some she beat out for the Oscar she earned for this film, but film performances aren't always built just on dialogue and physical movement. What put her over the top were those extraordinary pipes. Watching this film, it's easy to see why she amazed people with both her powerful, booming voice and her ability to interpret songs. Coming from a novice actress, she impressed enough awards voters to win all the big prizes.

In fact, so much of this movie's narrative and characterization is done through song. Jaime Foxx and Beyoncé Knowles who are professional singers sound better than they ever have. Eddie Murphy who has recorded albums using a voice that imitated other singers, but was on its own not distinctive, sounds better than I thought it was possible. Anika Noni Rose, as Lorrell, is a classically trained actress, Broadway veteran, and Tony Award winner, and she sounds great in a part that puts her character in the shadow of Knowles and Hudson's.

Condon deserves so much of the credit for bringing actors singing and singers acting together to create an ensemble cast that brings this colorful fantasy to life. Dreamgirls is a musical, but it is also a musical revue and music-filled overview of a time when African-American music was trying to break into the mainstream. In that, Dreamgirls is an intimate look at the lives of black artists, entertainers, musicians, singers, composers, and businessmen. The songs may unite the audience, but the experience of the African-American struggle to be accepted in the wider society and culture may seem foreign to so many. Still, Condon's colorful song-filled, dreamy myth making of real musical history will delight many for a long time to come.

10 of10

NOTES:
2007 Academy Awards: 2 wins: "Best performance by an actress in a supporting role" (Jennifer Hudson) and "Best achievement in sound mixing" (Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer, and Willie D. Burton); 6 nominations: "Best performance by an actor in a supporting role" (Eddie Murphy), "Best achievement in art direction" (John Myhre-art direction and Nancy Haigh-set decorator), "Best achievement in costume design" (Sharen Davis), and 3 nominations for "Best achievement in music written for motion pictures, original song" ("Listen" Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler-music and Anne Preven-lyrics; "Love You I Do" Henry Krieger-music and Siedah Garrett-lyrics; and "Patience" Henry Krieger-music and Willie Reale-lyrics)

2007 BAFTA Awards: 1 win: “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” (Jennifer Hudson); 1 nomination: “Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music” (Henry Krieger)

2007 Golden Globes: 3 wins: “Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Eddie Murphy), and “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Jennifer Hudson); 2 nominations: “Best Original Song - Motion Picture” (Beyoncé Knowles, Henry Krieger, Anne Preven, and Scott Cutler for the song "Listen"), and “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Beyoncé Knowles)

Disney Princess Royal Court Welcomes Princess Tiana

From Disney:

PRINCESS TIANA OFFICIALLY JOINS THE DISNEY PRINCESS ROYAL COURT AT STAR-STUDDED CROWNING EVENT IN NEW YORK CITY


Celebrating the Release of "The Princess and the Frog" on Disney Blu-ray

Sunday, March 14th, 2010 – New York - The court of Disney Princesses was joined by Anika Noni Rose (“Tiana”) and a host of celebrity guests as Tiana was officially crowned the ninth member of the beloved Disney Princess Royal Court. A magical ceremony took place in the Grand Ballroom at the historic New York Palace in Manhattan. As the newest Disney Princess, Tiana will forever be celebrated and recognized as a Disney Princess across all divisions of the Walt Disney Company and will be included in all Disney Princess merchandise featuring multiple Disney Princess characters.

Joining Anika Noni Rose in celebration of the coronation was Tina Fey, Melissa Joan Hart, Kelly Rutherford, Audra McDonald, Nigel Barker, Brent Zachary, Alesandra Ambrosio, Matt Walton, Amy Landecker, additional voice talent from the film Jenifer Lewis (“Mama Odie”), Jennifer Cody (“Charlotte”) and Michael Leon Wooley (“Louis”) along with Disney Princess cast members Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, and Snow White, and Prince Naveen!

The event celebrated the arrival of The Princess and the Frog on Disney Blu-Ray and DVD, which releases March 16th. As Disney’s newest Disney Princess character, Tiana will forever be celebrated as a Disney Princess across all divisions of the Walt Disney Company, and will be included in all Disney Princess merchandise programs featuring multiple Disney Princess characters.

Nominated for three Academy Awards®, The Princess and the Frog transports audiences to glorious, glamorous New Orleans as Tiana, the newest Disney Princess meets her frog prince and gives him the fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical, magical bayous of Louisiana.